Upper Buffalo No.4
Upper Buffalo No.4 is an earth dam located in Marion County, West Virginia, built in 1984. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Buffalo No.4
The primary purpose of Upper Buffalo No.4 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Monongahela Cd (local government). It impounds the Owen Davy Run near Curtisville.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 474 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,621 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1984, the structure is 42 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/30/2025.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The West Virginia dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Marion |
| Nearest City | Curtisville |
| River/Stream | Owen Davy Run |
| Coordinates | 39.51611, -80.45389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 474 ft |
| Year Completed | 1984 (42 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,621 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,621 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 345 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,872 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Monongahela CD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV04927 |
| Federal ID | WV04927 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |